By Paul E. Dillard, National Commander
Dear American Legion Family Members and Friends,
The multi-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed after World War II to establish a “security architecture” that would provide assurances against aggression on the European continent. The deadly conquests of Nazi Germany were fresh on the minds of those nations that agreed to defend one another should attack come from an external force, as Hitler’s Third Reich had been, leading up to and during WWII. The purpose of NATO has become painfully clear in recent days following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, a democratic, sovereign nation that is not a member of NATO but has aspired to be.
Last Thursday’s unprovoked attack – the likes of which has not been seen in Europe since World War II – has been agonizing. Infuriating as it was – and is – the United States “should exhaust all diplomatic and economic tools at its disposal before utilizing military force” to confront it. That was one key position established last weekend after I called an urgent meeting of The American Legion National Security Commission, composed of veterans who understand war and why it must be avoided, if at all possible, through non-deadly means.
A resolution originating from The American Legion’s Department of North Carolina and advanced by the National Security Commission – “Resolution 1: Statement on Ukraine” – was approved by the National Executive Committee on Monday. The resolution addressed the situation at hand and expressed values worth remembering as the war there continues:
– The American Legion believes in a “rules-based international order where the territorial boundaries of any sovereign nation should not be changed by force.”
– NATO is an essential element of global and U.S. security “in an increasingly multi-polar world where rising powers have become increasingly adversarial…”
– Russia has no role in the “security architecture” of NATO.
– The Article 5 “mutual defense clause” does not extend to non-NATO countries.
– The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war.
Such were the points The American Legion National Security Commission considered in the resolution, which calls for:
– “Peaceful conflict resolution in Ukraine, in conjunction with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Russian Federation;”
– A European “security architecture that takes into account the national security interests of all parties;”
– Non-support for “the deployment of troops for combat operations in defense of non-NATO member countries in connection with the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict;”
– Urging “the administration to continue the supply of lethal and non-lethal aid to Ukrainian forces;”
– The “administration and U.S. Congress maintain a strong stance and resist any agreement that could undermine the strategic rationale for the normalization of agreements between NATO, Russia, and Ukraine;”
If the administration demands troop deployment, the resolution sets four conditions:
U.S. servicemembers should not be deployed in support of combat operations in any theater unless four conditions have been fulfilled:
1. That there will be a clear statement by the president of why it is in our vital national interest to be engaged in a particular operation
2. Guidelines will be established for the mission, including a clear exit strategy
3. That Congress is consulted and authorizes the use of military force
4. That it be made clear U.S. forces will be commanded only by U.S. officers
It has been said before and is worth saying again. No one hates war more than a veteran who has been in one. We believe in a strong defense capable at any time of protecting Americans and citizens of allied nations. We also know its costs and don’t take lightly any decisions to enter combat – as some nations clearly do – without the right reasons or authority.
For God and country,
Paul E. Dillard
National Commander
The American Legion
